Patience in Progress

Patience in Progress

Patience is not something the business world always values.

Looking back at my years in senior management, the balance was the other way around. A constant push to move forward. Growth at all costs. Targets set high — too high — and then the struggle to meet them. Maybe it was the company I worked for. Maybe it was the industry. But patience was never on the agenda.

Now, running my own company, I get to set the pressure. That’s one of the great advantages. But like many things in life, balance is needed.

With no pressure, progress slows. You risk being overtaken, uncompetitive, even bankrupt. Too much pressure, and the spark that fuels everything dies out.

So what’s the trick?

Start With Why

For me, it begins with vision. Navaia exists to help people reconnect with themselves through wild, powerful experiences in nature. That’s the mission. That’s the anchor.

On mornings when energy is low and motivation is thin, I come back to this. Why am I doing this? To create something meaningful. That reminder gives me the push to get going.

Little by Little

What I don’t do is micro-manage the journey.

Yes, I keep a long list of jobs — mostly so I don’t forget them now I’m getting older. But it’s not a detailed project plan with deadlines and milestones ready to be missed. It’s just a list.

And little by little, I work through it. Each job takes as long as it takes to do it properly. Often, one task creates two or three more. That’s okay. It’s more about quality and doing things the right way than ticking off boxes for the next weekly meeting.

This is the rhythm of my days now: slowly working through the list, while remembering the “why” behind it.

Step Back

The final piece is reflection.

Every few weeks, I step back and look at what I’ve achieved. The jobs done. The progress made. The steps towards turning vision into reality.

And I try to feel pride in that. Pride in what I’ve achieved, how I’ve done it, and in the belief that this vision will one day be fully alive.

No deadlines. No failures to deliver “on time.” Instead, freedom. The freedom to do it right. Driven by motivation rooted in purpose.

Applying It

Not everyone can change their working environment overnight. I get that. But you can still apply the same mindset.

Find your own why. Not the polished version you tell your boss or friends, but the real one. Maybe it’s as simple as providing for your family. That’s enough. Use it.

Build trust by doing good work consistently. Deliver without needing someone else’s list of tasks and dates. Slowly, steadily, things can shift.

And with it comes a little more freedom. A little more patience. A little more pride in progress.